Sankofa Circles: Looking Back to Heal the Soul Forward
There is an ancient proverb among the Akan people of Ghana that says, “Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi.” Translated, it means: "It is not taboo to go back for what you forgot (or lost)."
This wisdom is encapsulated in the Adinkra symbol known as Sankofa. It is most often depicted as a mythic bird with its feet planted firmly facing forward, yet its neck is cranes backward, its beak gently holding a precious egg.
The imagery is profound: To move forward successfully, we must first acknowledge where we have been. We must retrieve what is valuable from our history to secure our future.
At NAFS Healing Collective, this concept is the cornerstone of one of our core upcoming initiatives: Sankofa Circles.
Why We Must Look Back
In many modern mental health spaces, the advice is often to "let go of the past" and focus solely on the present. While well-intentioned, this approach often fails to address the unique realities of the Black experience.
For our community, the past is not just a memory; it is a living ancestor. We carry generations of resilience, joy, and profound wisdom in our DNA. Yet, we also carry the inherited weight of systemic trauma, erasure, and disconnection.
We cannot fully heal our Nafs—our essential Self and Soul—if we are disconnected from the roots that nourish it. We cannot understand our current anxieties, griefs, or patterns of behavior without understanding the historical context in which they were forged.
What is a NAFS Sankofa Circle?
A Sankofa Circle is a facilitated peer-support gathering designed to be a sanctuary for memory, processing, and connection.
It is distinct from clinical group therapy. Instead, it is a culturally grounded space where we use the wisdom of the past to navigate the challenges of the present. It is where we gather to "fetch the egg"—to retrieve the lessons, the identity, and the strength that lived experiences have offered us.
When we launch these circles as part of our vision leading up to 2026, they will offer:
A Sacred Container: A confidential, non-judgmental space where you don't have to explain the nuance of your existence. You are already understood.
Validation of Lived Experience: Many of us feel isolated in our struggles. In a Sankofa Circle, you realize that what you are feeling is a rational response to historical and present conditions. There is immense healing in simply knowing you are not crazy, and you are not alone.
Ancestral Wisdom for Modern Healing: We don't just dwell on trauma; we examine the tools of resilience our forebears used to survive and thrive, adapting them for our current mental wellness journeys.
Healing is a Reclamation Project
The "egg" in the mouth of the Sankofa bird represents potential—new life and the future.
By stepping into a Sankofa Circle, you are engaging in an act of reclamation. You are looking back at the hardest parts of your personal and communal history not to stay stuck there, but to gather the wisdom needed to birth a healthier, more whole future for yourself.
We are currently developing the framework for these powerful circles and training facilitators to hold this sacred space.
Are you ready to go back and fetch your healing?